Caleb's POV
Sleep shatters around me as heavy footsteps pound into my bedroom. My body springs upright, muscles coiled and ready for whatever threat has invaded my space. The familiar voice of my father cuts through the early morning silence like a blade.
"Caleb!" His eyes are wide with panic, filled with the kind of dread that makes my stomach plummet before I even understand why.
I don't need to turn toward the bed to know what he's about to tell me. The empty space beside me speaks louder than any words ever could. The realization hits me like a physical blow, stealing the breath from my lungs.
"No." The word escapes as barely a whisper, denial clawing at my throat as I finally force myself to look at the rumpled sheets where she should be.
My feet carry me toward the door before conscious thought catches up. Behind me, my father's voice follows like an echo of my worst nightmare.
